Improved step and bearing for vertical shafts



, @sind (States @wat @lattina GEORGE RICHARDSON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 90,958, dated .Tune 8, 1869.

IMPROVE!) STEP AND BEARING- FOR VERTICAL SHAFTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, of which- Figurc lis an elevation, and

Figure 2, a vertical section through the centre of 'the step B and upper bearing A, showing the shaft in position, and referring to the several parts by the letters of reference marked thereon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use and simple step and bearing for the vertical shafts of machinery,;as, for instance, the shafts of several kinds of water-wheels, where vertical shafts convey power.

from story to story of a mill, and all high-speeded and hardworking vertical shafts employed in manufacturing-establishments. In these cases, it often occurs that the entire weight of wheel, shaft, and attached gears and pulleys, is required to be borne by a single step at the lower extremity of the shaft; and, when the latter revolves, as is usual, at considerable speed, these steps and bearings will always cause trouble from friction, unless they be constantly lubricated, and otherwise attended to.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows:

Ihe step B, or bearing for the end of the shaft,. is hollowed out at-its upper part, to form a'cavity, E, surrounding the shaft, for the purpose of containing the' lubricating-fluid and its conductor.

The sides of this cavity, at its upper part, are brought in or contracted toward the centre, to form a top or cover, as shown at D, merely allowing suiiicient space around the shaft O for the introduction of the lubrieating-fluid. This guards the cavity E from dirt, orv

diately around the shaft, forms an elevated edge or lip,

G, whose outer sides incline down and back from the shaft, in all directions, to the bottom of the cavity E,

as shown. This forms a retaining-space for thelubrieating-fluid.

Within the cavity E is a ring or circle, F, of felt, or similar porous material, of sufficient depth to embrace the shaft above the lip G, while its lower part is immersed in the lubricant contained in the lower part of the cavity E.

This felt need not embrace the shaft so tightly as to revolve with it. All that is intended is suf'lcient contact -to keep'the shaft moistened with the lubricant,

felt.

The oiice of the inner elevatedv edge or lip G is not only to form a retaining -space for the lubricant, but to catch any gritty matters, or particles of abrasion, which may be formed in the bearing, whence the motion of the shaft will bring them up to the edge of the lip G, down the outer side of which they will flow,

land settle at the bottom of -the cavity; and, as it will be impossible for them 'to be drawn up thence by the capillary attraction of the felt, or porous conductor, they cannot come in contact with the working-surfaces again, and will thus be vprevented from doing any injury. In common forms of bearing, such particles remain mingled with the lubricating-substance upon the bearing, and thus contribute to the wear of the working-surfaces.

The upper bearing `A differs from the step B only In all other essential respects, they are identical.

lWhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The cavity E, in the step B, andvupper bearing A, for a vertical shaft; that is, having the upper portion of the sides of the cavity E contracted, or brought in toward the shaft, to form atop or cover for the cavity also, having an. elevated edge or lip, G, raised from. the bottom of the cavity, and surrounding the shaft, all arranged substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The ring or circle F, of felt, or other similar porous material, placed within the cavity E, in combinar tion with the shalt and steps A and B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

GEO. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM CLARK,

WM. P. OANNING.

which is drawn up by the capillary attraction of the.

in permitting the shaft to pass entirely through it. v 

